Display case



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DISPLAY CASE Filed Jan. 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 19, i940. J. Q WOLF, JR -222252944 DISPLAY CASE Filed Jan.-18, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1'9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y 2.22am msmr casa mein n. wou, Jr.. Alexandria, La. Application :um 1s, 1940. sean N0.- 314,519

i t 1 cum. (ci. .sz-sas) This invention relates to refrigerators.` An object of the invention isv the provision o f a refrigerator of-the display type in which a number of bins are arranged for holding fruits or vegetables 'with the bins being separated by glass partitions andw'lth a drip pan being l0- cated beneath the bins, means vbeing employed for maintaining a circulation of air under forced draft through the bins, an air duct through which the cold air is forced being normally closed by a kcover when a blower which maintains the forced draft is inoperative, the cover being automatically raised by the forced draft. v i

An object of the invention is the provision of a refrigerator of the display type in which a plurality of bins are arranged within a glass houslng, a vrefrigerating system being employed for maintaining a refrigerant in circulation through a plurality ofJ coils beneath the'bins, the refrigerator being operated in connection with a blower for forcing air through the coils and thence through the bins for maintaining fruits or vegetables within the bins at a .predetermined temperature, the upper portion of the bins being provided with a transparent partition separating the bins from each other. 1

A further object of the invention is the provision of a dispiay refrigerator for fruits or vegetables inwhich the upper part of the refrigerator has a transparent section so that'the comestibles located in the refrigerator may be viewed by the customers, the fruits or vegetables being housed in removable perforated containers so that when .air is blown through coils containing a refriger- 35 ant the air will be circulated upwardly through.

the comestibles, means being employed for evenly distributing cold air under a forced draft laterally through the comestibles when necessary, the bottoms of the containers housing the comestibles being. located adjacent cooling coils, means being employed for eliminating warm airfrom the refrigerator.

This invention will be bestv understood from a consideration'of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specicationpnevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is lnot confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications as dene no material departure from the salient features of the inf vention as expressed in .theappended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a refrigerator constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. I

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2--2 of Flgre 3.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the refrigerator. Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken ecalong the line 4-3 oi Figure 3.

Figure ,5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through the upper end of `a controlled air conduit. 5,

Referring more particularly-to the drawings, IIII designates a base member supported by feet II above a floor of the building. Upon the base member are mounted end Walls I2, I3, a front wall Il and a rear wall I5.' These walls house lo I a refrigerating unit (not'shown) in a chamber generally designated by the numeral I6. A chamber `I1 which has an open end in the front and rear walls is adapted to be used for storing bags for the Vconvenience of thev customers. This 15 chamber is isolated from the chamberA I6 containing the'refrigerating unit and a chamber I8a having a blower I8 by means of partitions I9.

Each partition is provided with an opening and a grid 20 to permit the circulation of air and this m air is drawn in by the fan or blower I8 and is forced through a conduit 2i.

A drip pan 22 forms the top of the lower compartment and the bottom of a cooling chamber 23. This cooling chamber is housed by insulated 25 end walls 24, 25, a front wall 26 and a rear wall 21. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that walls 23 of the drip pan 22 extend upwardly from the side edges of the pan and terminate at the upper ends of the walls of the cooling chamber. 30

A drain pipe 30 has its upper end, as shown at 3i, extending above the bottom of the drip pan 22, while the lower end 32 passes through the bottom -IIB of the refrigerator. The pipe Bilis adapted to be adjusted so that the upper end 3| will be at a predetermined height above the bottom of the drip pan 22 but below the horizontal plane passing through the top 33 of the air conduit 2|, so that the water collected lin the pan 22 will not enter the air pipe 2|.

A plurality of angle irons 34 which are T-shaped 40 Ain cross section extend transversely of the cooling chamber 23 and are secured at their ends to the side walls 23 of the pan`22 for supporting a pluralitv of refrigerating coils 35 above the upper end 33 'of the air conduit 2I-. These coils are lo- 45. cated in spaced relation throughout the length and width of the cooling chamber 2,3.

Pipes` 36 and 3'iare connected with the compressor of the refrigerator in the usual manner.

A vertical chamber 40 extends the entire length 50 of the refrigerator, is located above the coils 33 and is disposed centrally of the refrigerator. The side Walls 4I and t2 of this chamber are provided with a plurality of perforations 43 to permit the passage of lair from the chamber 40 to the interior 55 of baskets or containers for vegetables and fruits which are supported by angle irons 45 resting on angle wires 65 running longitudinally of the cooling chamber and secured to the side walls 23 of the drip pan 22. The perforated bottoms Il may 6.

t nsv Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 it will be seen that the end walls 54 are provided with openings 55 which are adapted to be closed by a sliding cover 56 mounted in guides 51 formed on the end walls 54. A lip 58 projects from the bottom of the sliding cover 55 for operating the same. 'This sliding cover when moved in its uppermost position is adapted to close the openings l 55 so thatair from the chamber 40 will not escape to the atmosphere.

The side walls 4| of the chamber 40 are supported at their ends on the walls 28 of the drip pan 22,. 'I'he angle irons 45B carried by the angle irons 45. support the side walls 4| at spaced points along the cooling chamber.

It will be noted that the inner edges of lthe perforated bottoms 44 terminate inwardly of the side walls 4| of the chamber 40 and these bottoms are removable from their positions on the angle irons 45B' which are more particularly shown in Fig. 5. y

` It will be seen from Figs.'1 and 2 that the refrigerator is formed of three sections, a lower section containing the refrigerating unit, a blower I8 and the storage space |1;` an intermediate section dened by-.the walls 25 and including the drip pan 22; and an upper section which includes the chamber 40, the perforated bottoms 44, side walls and end wallsl.

The side walls oconsist of' a metal frame- 'work having horizontal bars 62, B3 and vertical bars 54, 65. Glass plates 68 are supported by said bars so thatl customers may view the vegetables or fruits located in bins 51. These bins are' formed between the( side walls 4| of the chamber 40 and transverse partitions 68. These partitions also; have a' metal framework enclosing glass` platesis. The upper section may be. removable as a unit from .the intermediatelsection.

The intermediate section may be removable from the lower section at a point wherev the tongue 'and grooved portions 85 and 88 of the sections are joined. A finishing strip 81 of metal embraces the connected sections.

A plurality of coils 1| arelocated in a vertical plane and are connected with the compressor of the refrigerating unit by means of pipes as indicated at.12. These coils are located withinI the narrow elongatedchamber 40.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the air conduit 2| is provided-with an air disperser and a closure 'I3 formed ofk some light material `such as aluminum which extends beyond'the connes of the walls of the conduit. This closure is held in place on the upperend of the conduit 2| by means of guides 14 whichy have their upper ends'as shown at 15 connected to the inner face of the cover 13. The guides 14 are in -close contact with the inner Wall of the conduit 2| so that when the cover 13 is moved upwardly by the pressure of air within the conduit 2| the guides-will maintain the cover inf position. The air disperser is limited in its upcoils 35.

The, cabinet forenclosing the refrigerating dis#v play case may be'formed of any suitable material and any suitable decoration may be employed for making the cabinet attractive. The metal parts may be chromium plated or they may be formed of stainless, or any other suitable non-corrosive` metal.

An inclined ledge 11 is provided onA the upper ends of the walls of the intermediate section and surrounds the upper section where it joins the intermediate section. On the ledge adjacent each compartment or bin in the uppermost section. are located tag holders 18 to receivertags for indicating/the prices of vegetables or fruits located in the bins. f

A knob 85 is connected to the slidable cover 52 so that the cover may be manually adjusted along the top 50 of the chamber 40 for alining the'y L' openings 53 in said cover with openings 5| in said top so that when it is desired to eliminate warm y air fromA the cabinet and particularly when the refrigerating unit-is started the openings 5| may be opened to the atmosphere as well as the open-- ings in the end walls of the chamber 40. During-the normal operation of the refrigerator the/se openings are closed.

A door 8| which maybe in the form of louvers encloses an opening in each of the opposite end walls of the lower section as shown in Fig. 1. 'I'hese doors may' be hinged or may be removable so that a mechanic may enter either the compressor cabinet I6 or the blower cabinet lli at the opposite ends of the refrigerator for making repairs when necessary.

The operation of my device is as follows: The bins 61,l as shown in Fig. 1, may be directly lled with vegetables or fruits as the case may be, or fruits or vegetables may be placed in wire baskets and deposited in the bins.

The sliding cover 52 and likewise the plate 56 are then adjusted so that the 'openings 5| b and 55 willzbe covered, so that when vthe blower I8 and the refrigerating unit are operated, cold air will be forced -from the cooling compartments by means of air from the conduit 2|. 'At this time the member 13-will be raised on the upper end of said conduit and since said member acts as a diifuser the air will be distributed in all directions above the bottom of thefan 22,.- This air is then forced upwardly through theoils 35, perforated bottoms 44, through f the chamber 40, thence through the perforations 43 and laterally through the vegetables. 'I'he pressure of air from the con duit 2| will force the cold air outwardly and as soon as the air is sufliciently chilled by the coils 35 and the coils 1| the openings 5| and 55 are then opened, and the blower cut off and the refrigerator is in'operating condition by normal circulation of air. 'I'he openings 5| and 55 being open, will allow the air from the outside, which is warm, to be chilled on thecoils 1|, and will, by gravity, drop through the holes 43 into and through the vegetables or fruits.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the Yair is forced into the chamber t4I) then laterally through the perifbrations 43 and through the vegetables or ru s.

the drip pan 22 and the upper ends of thebins.

l'I'he warm air will 'rise but the cold air;

will settle down in the regions embraced between '70 Since this air is forced under pressure bythe blower |8rand evenly distributed the air is' maintained in circulation at all times.

The vegetables or fruit at all times during business hours, arev for sale and on display in the case. At night, or holidays, the case may be covered with heavy canvas to keep the hot air out and the cool air in. y

The moisture which has been condensed will be deposited on the bottom of the pan 22 and when this moisture rises to a predetermined height it will be discharged' from the upper end of the drain pipe 30. The lower end 32 of this' pipe is connected with a pipe which will carry the eX- cess moisture to a sewer as is usual.

When`the blower I8 is cut off the pressure is released from the pipe 2| and the light weight diffuser will settle back upon the upper end of the conduit and close the same to prevent the loss of cold air from the refrigerator.

The refrigerating unit (not shown) and likewise the blower I8 are controlled by the usual thermostats as is well known in the art.

I claim:

1. A refrigerating display case comprising a cooling compartment for fstoring comestibles having a perforated bottom, spaced walls rising from the bottom, dividing the compartment into atleast two sections and. providing a centrally ,disposed air chamber, a pair of the walls being perforated, cooling means below the bottom, a drip pan located below the cooling means and provided with an opening, a blower, a conduit connected with the blower passing through the opening in the drip pan and terminating below the cooling means.

2. A refrigerating display case comprising a cooling compartment for storing comestibles having a perforated bottom, spaced wallsrising from the bottom, dividing the compartment into at leasttwo sections and providing a centrally disposed air chamber, a pair of walls being perforated; cooling means below the bottom, a drip pan located below the cooling means and provided with an opening, a blower, a conduit connected with the blower passing through the opening in the drip pan and terminating below the cooling means, means on the upperend of theconduit adapted to be moved to an open position by the forced draft in the conduit and adapted to fall back into closing position to prevent the loss of cold air from the cooling compartment when the blower is inoperative;

. 3. A refrigerating display case. comprising a cooling compartment for storing comestibles having a perforated bottom, spaced walls rising from the bottom, dividing the compartment into at least two sections and providing a centrally disposed air chamber, forated,`cooling means below the bottom, pan located below the cooling means and provided with an opening, a blower, a conduit connected with,4 the blower passing through the opening in the dripvpan and terminating below a pair of walls being perthe cooling means, an air dispersing means located on the upper free end of the conduit and adapted conduit when air is forced through saidV conduit, means for guiding the air disperslng meansin its vertical movement, said dispersing means adapted to fall by gravity into closing relation with the upper end of the conduit when the blower is inoperative.

4. A refrigerating display case comprising a` compartment for storing comestibles bottom, spaced walls riscooling havlnl a perforated a drip' 'to be moved upwardly away from the.

dividing the compex-miem l into at least two sections and providing a centrally disposed air chamber, a pair of the walls being perforated, cooling means below the bot'- tom, a drip pan located below the cooling means and provided with an opening, a blower, a conduit connected with the blowerpassing through the opening in the drip pan and terminating below the cooling means, a drain pipe extending above the bottom of the drip pan for controlling -the height of the condensed liquid collected in said pan.

' 5. A refrigerating display case comprising a cooling compartment for storing comestibles having a perforated bottom, spaced walls rising from the bottom, dividing the compartment into cooling compartment for storing comestibles at least two sections and providing a centrally disposedv air chamber, a pair of the walls being perforated, cooling means below the bottom and meansior forcing air through lthe cooling means,

vthe perforated. bottom, the chamber and through the perforated walls, the air chamber being provided with a closed top having air discharge openings and means for closing said openings, the air chamber also having end walls which are provided with openings for the discharge of warm air from the cooling compartment, and means for closing said openings.

'7. A refrigerating display case comprising a pair of superposed compartments, the upper compartment being adapted to store comestibles,

a blower and refrigerating unit located in the,

lower compartment, a'. drip pan separating the two compartments and providedwith an opening, a conduitpassing through the opening and connected with the blower for supplying cold air yto the upper compartment, a plurality of horizontally disposed cooling coils located above the drip pan and operatively connected -with the refrigerating unit, a perforated bottom supported above the cooling coils and adapted to support the comestibles so that when air is blown from the conduit through the refrigerating coils and through the perforated bottom said air will be circulated throughthe comestibles, spaced side and end walls rising from. the bottom to form a vertically disposed cooling chamber which divides the upper compartment into at least twoA sections, the bottom of the air chamber being in open communication with the space between the perforated bottom and the bottoni of the dripl pan, the side walls being perforated so that when air is blown through ,the conduit said air willnot only be forced upwardly through the perforated bottom but also through the air chamber whence the air will escape laterally through the perfoi cooling coils.

` JOSEPH B. WOLF, Jn. 

